Latin American Studies MSc

**The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.** <br/><br/>**MSc**<br/>This is a nine-month programme which spans three academic terms and is intended to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the main developments in Latin America from c. 1900 to the present.<br/><br/>While the programme emphasises the specific features of individual countries, there is also broad comparative coverage of major trends such as authoritarianism and democracy, the economic cycle, the effect of international factors, the evolution of the Left and Right, revolutionary movements and the effects of neo-liberal economic models.<br/><br/>Students will choose two disciplinary papers from the following:<br/><br/><br/>- Latin America since Independence<br/><br/><br/>- Introduction to the Latin American Economies<br/><br/><br/>- Sociology of Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The International Relations of Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The Politics of Democracy in Latin America.<br/><br/><br/>In addition, students will choose either one option paper or a further disciplinary paper. As a guide, the following option papers are currently available but may vary from year to year:<br/><br/><br/>- Andean Politics<br/><br/><br/>- Human Rights in Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The Politics of Brazil.<br/><br/><br/>- Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime State & Society in Latin America<br/><br/><br/>These topics are addressed through taught classes for a number of academic disciplines (including history, politics, sociology, international relations and economics), individual preparation for a range of assessments, and a lively programme of seminars and conferences with visiting speakers.<br/><br/>A typical week during term time will involve around 40 hours of study, including two to six hours of scheduled contact hours, two hours for the weekly seminar and at least thirty hours of independent work. During peak times around deadlines, the amount of work could be higher depending on your own study habits. <br/><br/>**MPhil**<br/>This is a 21-month programme which spans six academic terms, including a fieldwork project in Latin America (up to three months). The course will be informed by a range of disciplines: history, political science, sociology, economics and international relations. Major trends in the development of Latin America will be analysed with reference to the main categories of explanation advanced to interpret that development.<br/><br/>In the first year, students will choose two disciplinary papers from the following:<br/><br/><br/>- Latin America since Independence<br/><br/><br/>- Introduction to the Latin American Economies<br/><br/><br/>- Sociology of Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The International Relations of Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The Politics of Democracy in Latin America.<br/><br/><br/>In addition, students will choose three option papers, or may substitute these with further disciplinary papers. One paper will be taken in the first year, and two papers in the second year. As a guide, the following option papers are currently available but may vary from year to year:<br/><br/><br/>- Andean Politics<br/><br/><br/>- Human Rights in Latin America<br/><br/><br/>- The Politics of Brazil<br/><br/><br/>- Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime State & Society in Latin America<br/><br/><br/>The course will provide you with a critical understanding of the major elements in the development of Latin America over the past two hundred years. You will be taught to relate economic and political trends, and to assess the importance of international influences. The course will demonstrate the way in which different disciplines contribute to an overall understanding of the historical development of the continent. You will also be taught the importance and the limitations of the comparative method of analysis.<br/><br/>A lively programme of LAC seminars, workshops and conferences with visiting speakers complements the MPhil programme, and you are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet with and learn from fellow Latin Americanists.